Westfall Township supervisor aids pipeline protesters

Sunday

Apr 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Westfall Township Supervisor Larry Flansburg tried to help pipeline protesters who are charged with illegally trespassing on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline right of way and construction site, located on private property, a police report indicates.

BETH BRELJE

Westfall Township Supervisor Larry Flansburg tried to help pipeline protesters who are charged with illegally trespassing on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline right of way and construction site, located on private property, a police report indicates.

At least three protesters were arrested in February by Eastern Pike Regional Police in Westfall for climbing and sitting in trees that were to be removed to make way for the Northeast Upgrade Project: 40 miles of a natural gas pipeline, including 10.5 miles through Pike County.

Stephen Olympia, 23, of Newburgh, N.Y., and Richard Henning of Middletown, N.Y., were each issued a citation for trespassing.

Alexander Lotorto, 26, a seasonal landscaper from Milford, was charged with resisting arrest, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct for the tree-sitting incidents.

On Feb. 20, police had just finished escorting Henning and Olympia off the property and were making the 30-minute hike back through the wooded private property, King Arthur Estates, to talk to a man sitting in the tree.

The tree sitter had concealed his identity and called himself "Gifford Pinchot," the former Pennsylvania governor and Pike County conservationist credited with starting the U.S. Forest Service.

On the hike in, police encountered protester Alexander Lotorto who was escorting television crews from WBRE-TV and Blue Ridge Cable Channel 13 to the tree to see the unidentified tree sitter. Police told them that they all were trespassing.

Lotorto said he had permission to be there and that he was allowed to take 10 people at a time up on this private property, according to the police report.

Police told Lotorto that they had received information from the property owner's attorney that they were trespassing.

Lotorto asked police if they knew Westfall Township Supervisor Larry Flansburg and explained that Flansburg had gotten him permission from the landowner to be on the land to protest, as long as he did not bring more than 10 people at a time.

Police told Lotorto that Flansburg provided incorrect information and that he must leave or be arrested for trespassing.

Lotorto then called Flansburg and asked police to speak with him to correct the situation.

Flansburg told police that he got the permission to access the property through the owner, according to the police report.

Police explained that the owner Flansburg referred to no longer wanted to allow access and besides, the group was walking on another person's property and trespassing.

Flansburg told police that he didn't want to get involved. Police told him that he was involved. The phone was then handed back to Lotorto and he was told to leave, which he did, the report said.

Lotorto was later charged for a similar tree sitting incident.

"I didn't really give them permission. I called the property owner, and the lady said it was OK," Flansburg told the Pocono Record. "I told them, 'I'll help you if you promise not to make it look bad,' which is basically how it went down."

Flansburg said that the protesters had someone in a tree that was supposed to be cut down, they planned to stay for a few days, were to bring food and a medic to the tree, but could not get to the tree.

"When they called me, they said police were there and the police were kind of roughing it up, and asked if I would, could I call and see if I could get them some help," Flansburg said.

Flansburg said he told them he did not want to be associated with any vandalism or theft.

He has helped the pipeline protesters before.

"I had been helping with petitions and sending letters all along. None of the other supervisors — they don't have an opinion either way, but I believe people have a right to protest," Flansburg said.

Flansburg says he has put his name as a supervisor on a few letters for protesters.

"People have been fighting this. The Cummings Hill people are the people who got me elected. If no one was going to get hurt, I was going to help them. I won't turn my back on people who helped me get elected," Flansburg said.